Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Madrid Pride will not be held in the city centre as is traditional, but instead will be going virtual. The Organising Committee of the LGBTQ+ Pride – comprising the National Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals (FELGTB), COGAM, Madrid LGTB+ Association and the Association of Companies and Professionals for the LGBTQ+ community in Madrid (AEGAL) – will be holding the event online from 28 June to 5 July.
As the warm weather engulfs the city, flags and bunting go up all over Chueca neighbourhood and Madrileños prepare to celebrate Madrid Pride, an event that draws nearly two million visitors from across the globe. Enjoyed by people of all ages, genders, sexualities, races and faiths, it is living proof that Madrid is an open, cosmopolitan and diverse city.
After the huge sucess of 2017 WorldPride, Madrid has become one of the world’s top LGBTQ+ destinations. Its Pride is attended by thousands of people every year. Celebrations always kick off on International Pride Day, 28 June, which commemorates the Stonewall riots, the most important event in the gay rights’ movement. They last for a week and are packed with awareness-raising activities, cultural events and all kinds of entertainment, including the main event, a huge parade held on the first Saturday of July and going between Atocha train station and Plaza de Colón.
However, Coronavirus has turned 2020 on its head, disrupting events big and small, including Madrid Pride. So this year’s celebrations will take place on the original dates but will be going online. A packed programme of virtual events will ensure we keep alive the spirit and mission of Pride: to send out a strong message of support, warmth, colour, visibility and hope. It will have its very own anthem: a choral version of legendary band Fangoria’s song Piensa en positivo [Think in positive] sung by Agoney, Aleks Syntek, Buika, Delaporte, Fran Perea, Jaime Summers, Jorge Megó, Kika Lorace, La Prohibida, Miguel Lara, Molina Molina, Paco Clavel, Rafa Sánchez, Ricky Merino, Sara Pérez, Siloé, The Porto Sisters, Varry Brava and Vega, and produced by Juan Sueiro.
The Pride we all know and love
This year all the activities that AEGAL usually organises in different parts of the city (Plaza de Pedro Zerolo, Plaza del Rey, Puerta de Alcalá gate and Puerta del Sol) will be held online. On MADO’s official website, you’ll find all of those spaces and artists will post their videos on the stage of their choosing. The ones that have most views will be invited to perform live in the next edition of MADO.
The opening ceremony will be available online from 28 June. This year the opening speech will be given by the actresses from the TV series Veneno and Spanish waterpolo player Víctor Gutiérrez.
The Mr Gay Pride España contest, whose final is usually held on the stage in Puerta del Sol, will offer a special retrospective edition showcasing the highlights of previous years.
Everyone's Pride
MADO invites all of us to celebrate Pride from our homes and to decorate our houses, balconies and shop windows with rainbows (on Instagram you can even take part in a competition for the chance to win a trip to Torremolinos and Maspalomas).
The MADO 2020 Award will pay tribute to everyone who has been affected by the pandemic, particularly those who were on the frontline during the lockdown such as health-care workers, cleaners, security forces and staff working in supermarkets, transportartion, chemists and essential services.
Throughout the week, there will be a number of cultural events, activities for children and special initiatives, including talks organised by Workingay about intergenerationality and an LGBT coaching session from coach Pedro Serrano who will analyse from an emotional perspective how we’ve dealt with this pandemic, and talk about the new values and challenges that lie ahead.
The annual Madrid Summit will also go ahead, although it will be held online. This year, thanks to the fact that it is a webinar, it will feature politicians, activists and NGO leaders from around the world. They will discuss important topics such as the impact of Covid-19, immigration and social inclusion, and LGBTQ+ rights with regards to future events.
The parade
The main event of Gay Pride week is undoubtedly the parade. Every year on the first Saturday of July thousands of people in Madrid march from Atocha (Paseo del Prado next to the Botanical Gardens) to Colón to demand equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Attendees enjoy an incredible atmosphere as they take to the street to celebrate and embrace diversity.
This year, COVID has forced the organisational committee to move the parade online. At 7pm on Saturday 4 July the Spanish association FELGTB, and Madrid’s COGAM invite you join in the online parade under the motto “Sorority and Feminism that TRANSform. Lesbian, trans and bisexual women in action! Let’s stand by those who are most vulnerable!”.
More information:
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